Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Thomas, an attorney looking for some cheap wings.

Name: Thomas

Age: 26

Occupation: Attorney/Editor

Where in Midtown do you work? 47th & 3rd

Favorite Kind of Food: Fried Chicken/Mashed Potatoes

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Bananas with any brown on the peel (disgusting)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Gourmet 53 (53rd/3rd)- chicken cobb salad, pita chips, fruit cup and a cookie for $7.05

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Since Flatiron only gets one day a week in the sun (Fridays), every once in a while we head south a throw a bone to the lunchers that toil away south of 32nd Street. This week it’s Evan, a restaurant PR person with a surprisingly un-PR’ish list of favorite lunchtime restaurants.

Name: Evan

Age: 24

Occupation: Restaurant and Hospitality Public Relations

Where in Midtown do you work? Bullfrog & Baum; we’re in Flatiron on 23rd Street.

Favorite Kind of Food: Every genre has its own kind of amazing going for it, but I’m partial to Thai, Vietnamese, Southern Italian, and Indian.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: anything with okra – do not want.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Kofoo for quick, cheap, delicious beef bibimbap; Pongsri (on 23rd btw. 6+7th) for solid Thai curries and spicy, bright meat salads; Eataly for tomato focaccia and the calamari salad with olives, capers, and crunchy celery; Iron Sushi (on 3rd btw. 30+31st) for chirashi; Maffei’s (on 22nd & 6th) for a solid Grandma slice or plain cheese New York style (also love the meatballs and garlicky broccoli), Tbsp (on 20th btw. 5+6th) for the vegetable sandwich on focaccia; Taim Mobile for the vegetarian platter or the Sabbich.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Kofoo (on 8th btw. 26+27th). It’s convenient, inexpensive, and all about flavorful, no-nonsense Korean food. The nice lady at the register knows my usual, too (beef bibimbap, extra kimchee).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Dylan, an Advertising guy who is itching to show his loyalty to some Midtown Lunch spots.

Name: Dylan

Age: 23

Occupation: Advertising

Where in Midtown do you work? 52nd and Broadway

Favorite Kind of Food: American – Burgers, steak, and pub food.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Not a huge seafood fan

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Anything off the grill at Crown Deli (on B’way btw. 52+53rd), most of Cafe Duke (on 51st btw. 6+7th)

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Steak and Shake (on B’way btw. 53+54th). It’s just too close, and too cheap.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s PJ, a carb lover who thinks Trini Paki Boys is the ideal lunch.

Name: PJ

Age: 41

Occupation: Retail IT Director

Where in Midtown do you work? For a well-known fashion designer on 40th and 8th

Favorite Kind of Food: I’m a total carb, so first pick’s gotta be Italian. But the flavors in Indian and Middle Eastern foods are just amazing – I’m a little late to the Halal party but I am definitely making up for lost time. Really, any good combinations of meat/bread/cheese with fresh ingredients and good sauce/seasoning complements and I’m there.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi, salad, mushrooms (it’s a texture thing, not a taste thing). And let me be clear here: I will never eat another turnip again. Ever.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: A chicken tikka masala and a double from Trini Paki Boys (on 43rd btw. 5+6th) is absolutely my perfect lunch in midtown. The non-veggie platter with Puri at Famous Dal Wagon (on 39th & 6th). The falafel at Pick-A-Pita (RIP). A cuban from Margon (on 46th btw. 6+7th). The provolone chicken sandwich from Previti Pizza (on 41st btw. Park+Lex). Just about anything from Cer Te on 55th btw. 5+6th (I once walked 16 blocks for one of their monthly sandwiches, and I’d do it again).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Brad, a stats guy who has spent the past two years waiting for his “freak of the week” moment…

Name: Brad

Age: 30

Occupation: Statistics Assistant

Where in Midtown do you work? The place with 193 flags on its front lawn. Also check out my food blog! Just kidding, I’m not cool enough to have one.

Favorite Kind of Food: I was raised by an Asian mother, so I love any type of cuisine that combines meat and rice. My guilty pleasure is a greasy burger and a beer, though I have to try to limit the indulgences given that blood pressure and cholesterol weren’t things that I worried about in my 20s.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salads. Avocados, in particular, make me nauseous.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Khao Soi from Talent Thai (on 34th btw. 2+3rd), Combo over Rice from Gussy’s, Kuro Ramen from Hide-chan (on 52nd btw. 2+3rd), Doubles from Trini-Paki Boys (on 43rd btw. 5+6th), Katsu Curry from Yagura (though I guess I have to go to Sunrise Mart now sadface).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Mike, a Flatiron Luncher who wishes he worked in S.F.

Name: Mike

Age: 31

Occupation: Digital Community Manager/Musician

Where in Midtown do you work? a dope agency called Mirrorball in Chelsea

Favorite Kind of Food: I’m from the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area, so Mexican food plays a huge part of my “diet,” but my options out here aren’t as abundant as back home. Although I do appreciate a nice carne asada burritio from Dos Toros because it feels familiar.. I’d also say sushi, friend chicken, Korean noodles (jap che,) burgers, gyros and hot dogs count as well. Oooh, and Korean fried chicken (which I would say is different enough from regular friend chicken, to warrant a mention.) I just like to eat.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Orange squash has just been a bane to my tongue’s existence since I used to have to eat that nasty stuff as a baby.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Moreso in the Chelsea/Flatiron area, but the Shack Burger and cheese fries from Shake Shack, the Scnipper’s Classic burger with sloppy Joe fries from Schnipper’s, Texas Tenders and mac n’ cheese from Hill Country Chicken, the tuna burger from Kobeyaki (on 7th btw. 26+27th), Grimaldi’s pizza, the gouda grilled cheese from Morris Grilled Cheese Truck, Korilla truck, the porchetta and prime rib sandwiches from Rosticceria in Eataly, and Kyochon wings from Kyochon, and anything from Woorijip more north from my area. My coworkers and I like to “GO IN” so to speak when it comes time for daily grubfest. Oh yeah, I’d like to give a shout out for Mad Sq. Eats and how it blesses us multiple times a year with Conneticut style lobster rolls, coconut chicken curry and pulled pork empanadas and the Mash & Vinh Asia Dogs.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Lexie a PR exec looking for some authentic Mexican food in Midtown.

Name: Lexie

Age: 33

Occupation: Public relations executive

Where in Midtown do you work? Park Avenue and 55th Street

Favorite Kind of Food: Thai food (Pam Real Thai or Sook in midtown and UWS respectively)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything by hostess

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: It was Menchanko Tei for their amazing menchanko ramen and rice balls–but it recently closed. Love the food truck on the corner of Park and 55th. They have an awesome brown rice, veggie and chicken combo for $7! Also, can’t go wrong with Grand Sichuan on 2nd Avenue and 55th–soup dumplings–oh yea! Also dig Taksim on 2nd Avenue in the low 50s. Amazing kofte sandwiches and great tarama (taramaslata), stuffed grape leaves and borek.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Jason, an internet guy with some great recs near 9th Ave.

Name: Jason

Age: 30-something

Occupation: Director, Mobile & Social Strategy

Where in Midtown do you work? R/GA

Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything overpriced

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: When I have time to sit down and don’t want to go far, I like Tabata (on 9th btw. 39+40th) Shio Ramen. This is particularly true when it’s cold and wet out and I need something quick yet satisfying. If I have a bit more time and am super hungry, I stop by Peter’s Since 1969 (on 9th btw. 42+43rd), for all the American/Southern comfort food you can imagine. They’ve got everything from roast chicken, turkey brisket, you name it. Plus all the sides you know and love. Working near 9th Avenue, there’s a ton of Thai places to check out. My regulars are Room Service and Pure Thai Cookhouse (on 9th btw. 51+52nd). The latter is really authentic and has flavors you don’t normally get elsewhere. If I’m pressed for time, as in nearly everyday, I’ll often pick up a wrap at Lenny’s. Unimaginative, but reliably solid and quick.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Allen, a packaging design wizard who loves General Tsao but can’t seem to find a decent slice in Midtown.

Name: Allen

Age: 28

Occupation: Packaging design wizard

Where in Midtown do you work? Right around 38th & 6th

Favorite Kind of Food: In Midtown, the less English spoken, the better. There is definitely an inverse relationship here. Outside of NYC I’ll just eat any kind of comfort foods. But seriously, Asian and Latino foods of all kinds, green sauce of all kinds, stuffed things, burgers. Not sure if this qualifies as Chinese food, but occasionally I’m still a sucker for General Tsao chicken/tofu/whatever. Chinese people make it. I never heard of the great general in the history books, but the man had a sweet tooth. Candied meats are awesome.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: “Just a salad” is not a meal. Stuffed grape leaves are the crabapples of stuffed foods. Cricket quesadillas (yes, I really tried it, and it tastes like how the back of a Petland discount smells). Dollar pizza has ruined the pizza landscape of NYC. Sometimes tourists on the street with their families in tow politely ask me where to get “a good slice of pizza.” I look across the street at the 2 Bros next door to the Indian chaat/pizza deli and politely laugh in their face and walk away. Then I cry once I’m at my desk. I will SO pay up to $10 for 2 good slices of pizza at this point. I’m getting really desperate.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Picnic Basket on 37th+6th has great Mediterranean-ish food. The sandwiches there are really well made, and the owner is a bit of a chatterbox but cool. It’s good to still see someone try to make a connection at their store instead of just grabbing your money and throwing food at you. It’s still kinda new, so we’ll see. I like Szechuan Gourmet for a good, spicy lunch, but stay away from the boring dishes like chicken with broccoli and general Tsao. I like Ming Du, despite whatever the DOH throws at them. Cafe Zaiya is good for all their baked goods — it is totally possible to have a lunch made completely out of desserts. Secretly, Yagura puts out some kind of after-lunch buffet. Not a huge selection, but really simple great stuff. Lunch is whenever my gut says it is. 4:30 can still be lunch. Dig Inn is a godsend for when I try to have a complete healthy meal. Woorijip over in K-town rules … even at 3 a.m., same great stuff. Homeboy runs a tight ship at that one cart over by 45th. Green sauce, word up. Comme Ci Comme Ca truck. All the sandwiches are good, but merguez is best. That secret Mexican place, Riconcito Mexicano, where everyone complains that nobody there speaks English. They are definitely right, but how hard is it to order tacos? Quit trying to describe your food allergy situation to these people. The place isn’t for you if you need Rosetta Stone to order enchiladas. It’s just a nice grimy quiet lunch spot.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Christian, a Marketing Director who hates bodega sandwiches but might be eating a horsemeat sandwich in this photo.

Name: Christian

Age: 34

Occupation: Marketing Director

Where in Midtown do you work? Near Bryant Park

Favorite Kind of Food: Oh man, where to start! I’m a Southerner by raisin’, and I’ve always been partial to fried chicken with hot sauce. But I could also eat Thai food at just about every meal. Cheeseburger with jalepenos are a perpetual favorite. And who doesn’t love a good taco slathered in salsa verde? I guess my favorite food is spicy and calorie-laden.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I actually like sandwiches a lot. But crappy, generic bodega sandwiches? They are the worst.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The twice cooked pork from Szechuan Gourmet (on 39th btw. 5+6th) is awesome. I eat the Zach combo from Biryani Cart (on 46th & 6th) once a week. But the pernil from Sophie’s on 45th between 5th and 6th avenues may be my #1 choice.

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